'Can't forget that day'

Image copyrightGrant WellbeloveImage caption
Archie Wellbelove was a student at the University of Warwick

The Warwickshire County Council report, published on Thursday, found serious injuries or deaths on roads where street lights had been switched off, had increased from three to five.

Compared to data before the switch-off (2011-12), there was also an increase in minor injuries from accidents on affected roads, from seven to 10.

Mour Ali said at the time of Archie's death, the A452 Kenilworth Road was so dark it took him and police about 45 minutes to find his body.

An inquest cleared the taxi driver of any wrongdoing.

"Just imagine if it was my fault, I would be in prison, I would have lost my job, I would have lost everything. I'm afraid when I come to that road, it's still dark, it shocks me. I still can't forget that day.

"The lights need to go back on. We are killing our future [young people] just for a few pounds," Mr Ali said.

'Unfortunate' incident

Warwickshire's transport and planning councillor, Peter Butlin, said it was an "unusual" and "unfortunate" incident.

A council statement said "the absence of street lighting was one of many contributory factors".